Tata Chemicals worried over Haldia plant strike

Kolkata, Mar 19 : Tata Chemicals, the world's second largest producer of soda ash, has expressed concern over the uncertainty of its operations in West Bengal's Haldia owing to the ongoing "illegal" strike by workers at its fertilizer plant.

In a statement on Friday, the company said, "We have been putting up regular notices requesting contractors and their workmen to resume duties. Our deep concern is that the ongoing illegal strike will severely impact the future of the factory."

"If this continues Haldia may not be seen as a preferred industrial location in West Bengal."

It said the strike by the contact workers began on Feb 18 last just as a memorandum of understanding between the Dual-listed company and the contractors and contract union employees was about to be converted into a LTS (Long Term tripartite Settlement).

"When the LTS was about to get signed and executed, the union raised fresh demands which hampered the progress of the settlement getting signed. Some of the demands had long term implications on the sustainability of the factory. Owing to uncertainty of material availability and infrastructure related issues the plant operations and profitability were constantly under pressure." said the company in the release.

According to the company, some of the contact workers have shown willingness to resume work but are obstructed by another section of the contract workers.

The opposing sections have also obstructed the movement of other materials at all gates hampering the essential operations of the factory undermining the safety and environmental issues, it said.

"State administration's machinery has been informed at various levels to help in restoring normalcy," added the company.

The factory is the single major Phosphatic Fertilizer manufacturer/supplier in West Bengal, it said.

Tata Chemicals Ltd is a Tata Group Company (India) with plant locations in Mithapur (Gujarat),Babrala (UP), Nanded (Maharashtra) and Haldia (West Bengal) in India; Northwich, Cheshire (United Kingdom), East Hanover, New Jersey (United States), Delfzijl (The Netherlands) and Magadi(Kenya). It is headquartered in Mumbai, India.